Supports Green Practices

"Supports Green Initiatives" designates a hotel's participation in an optional environmental program that includes the use of energy-efficient lighting, guestroom towel/linen re-use, and on-premise recycling. "Supports Green Initiatives" does not represent an official certification of any kind.

Arts & Museums

Providing a boost to the art and live music scene of Traverse City, the InsideOut Gallery has a plethora of events scheduled throughout the year. This multipurpose space, which is spread across more than 7000 square feet (650 square meters) mostly supports the Lowbrow Art movement and houses a number of sculptures, paintings digital artworks and collages depicting characters from comic books from the past. Apart from the changing art exhibits, the gallery also hosts concerts of various local as well as touring bands. After attending a show or an exhibition walk into its cocktail lounge where you can relax and unwind. Check out their website for more information.

Set within the campus of the Northwestern Michigan College and opened in 1991, the Dennos Museum Center beckons to families, friends and visitors to come and partake of its wide offerings which span architecture, installations, sculptures, artifacts, paintings, etc. Lectures, workshops, classes and similar events are organized for adults while toddlers and preschoolers have their own educational program. The performing arts too are suitably represented in their fabulous auditorium. Check website for more details.

Home to a large collection of vintage music instruments and music machines, Music House Museum gathers and restores several types of automated music machines. Providing a peek into the history of automated music, the Museum educates its visitors about its impact on culture and technology of this region. Located in a renovated 12,000-square-foot (1115-square-meter) white barn, the Museum houses instruments like 1924 Wurlitzer Theater Organ and a 97-key Mortimer Dance Organ, among others. Visitors can not only see these antique instruments, but also hear them play. The Museum also sees special exhibits and concerts, and is one of the best Museums of Michigan.

Built in 1870, this historic lighthouse is now a museum of local history and culture, and an interesting feature is its unique location. Situated at exactly the 45th parallel between the North Pole and the Equator, the lighthouse was an important warning system for the ships and boats about the treacherous shoals off the coast into the Grand Traverse Bay. Self guided tours of the lighthouse are available with an admission fee, though the first level entry is free of charge. The lighthouse is located in Lighthouse park and is close to several beautiful hiking and trekking trails. Accommodation in the log cabin is available. Interestingly, the lighthouse has a Keeper Program, where visitors can volunteer to live in the lighthouse and help run it for a period of time. For additional information, visit the website or email.

Located on the Cedar Street, the Kalkaska County Museum was established in 1970 and is maintained by the Kalkaska Historical Society. Occupying the old Train Depot building in downtown area of Kalkaska, the museum is open between June and August, Wednesdays through Saturdays between 1p and 4p. The displays here are fantastic themselves, but worth mentioning is the National Trout Memorial in the building's compound. Depicting a huge trout, about 17 feet (5.18 meters) leaping from the water fountain, the artwork is rife with many state symbols including the state flower, the apple blossom and the state bird, the robin.